Freddie Roach is training Ik Yang for a knockout victory

AS well as Zou Shiming, Manny Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach has another Chinese protege under his wing. Roach will guide Ik Yang in his July 18 IBF light-welterweight world title fight against Cesar Cuenca in the Cotai Arena in Macau.

Roach explains why his charge is one to watch. “Yang has only gone the distance once in the last four years. The fans love him because he backs up his cocky attitude with devastating results. He has one-punch knockout power in both fists. He is as much fun to train as he is to watch. It’s no secret that we are training for a knockout victory. Yang knows he’s in with a master boxer and the only way to beat a guy like Cuenca is to pressure him. And when we get him on the ropes Yang is going to bang away. As the saying goes, ‘Tough guys don’t dance.’ Yang is going to shoot the works in this fight. He wants to bring the title back to China.”

Yang added, “I am in the best shape of my life and have trained harder than all my previous fights.

“I have had a great training camp with Freddie and Justin [Fortune] and my sparring partners have really pushed me to the limit. I cannot wait for July 18 in Macau knowing that I have put in the necessary work.”